An Introductio

n to Silatech

January 2013

Supporting Quality Career Guidance in

Qatar and the Region: Capacity Building in

Educational Institutions

Dr. Rachel AwadAssociate Director, Employability

The Arab world today contains the largest proportion of youth in the region’s history.

112 million between 15-29 (30% of total

population)

Arab youth unemployment (25%) is the highest of any region in the world.

The failure of most Arab countries to integrate this group—economically, socially and politically—has been a major cause of the “Arab Spring.”

The Challenge

3

Fast Facts• Founded in 2008 under

the leadership of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser

• “Silatech” comes from the Arabic work “Sila” which means connection.”

In Arabic, “Silatech” means “your connection.”

Mission

To connect young people with improved opportunities for employment, enterprise and civic engagement.

We do this by mobilizing knowledge, investment, technology and networks, and by influencing mindsets and policies that are key to unlocking wider impact.

Vision

An Arab world in which young people are able to work, and are engaged in the economic and social development of their societies.

Mission and Vision

• Help young people choose the right career

• Boost employability skills among young people

• Connect young entrepreneurs with financing and assistance

• Spur investment in job-creating small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs)

• Advocate job-creating governmental policies

• Advise corporations on youth-friendly CSR practice

• Change regional mindsets on youth and work

• Commission practical, action-oriented research

• Build the capabilities of youth-serving organizations

What We Do

Scope: All 22 countries of the Arab League

Silatech currently has projects in place in 11 countries, as well as some which cover the entire region.

Where We Operate

Core Programs

SME Developme

ntEmployabili

tyMicroenterpri

se

Civic Engagement

Context

• Youth unemployment: 27% across the Arab region, 11% in Qatar.

• Qatar faces a“misemployment” challenge due to the pressures of Qatarization.

• Career guidance in the Arab world is a fledgeling concept, and the capacity to deliver quality career guidance services to the regions’ youth remains extremely underdeveloped.

TheChallenge

Career Guidance

Practitioners and researchers have

identified the lack of career guidance

services as on of the key challenges for

regional employability

support.

Results(Nov. 200– Feb. 2013)

Addressing the Challenge

1. Creating objective, scientific tools to help

young people become more self aware

2. Providing institutional access to youth-

serving institutions

3. Capacity building individuals to delivery

quality career guidance services.

Online Psychometri

c Assessment

s

Institutional

Partnerships

Capacity Building

• Personality, Cognitive Processing, Career Inventory

• Objectively measure aptitudes, interests & motivations

• Available in Arabic, French & English

• All results normed to the Arab region

• Colleges and Universities• Schools• Governments• NGOs• Over centers in 6

countries

• Comprehensive 3-4 day training program

• Hands on, interactive, practice sessions

• Technical and non-technical aspects of service delivery

• Career Advisor Certification

Tailored and meaningful feedback

For youth… For advisors…

Showing Your Skills

You like the type of work and tasks that give you a challenge, where you can show your skills. You are more likely to be successful if you get involved with groups or organizations where you can take on responsibilities and work towards being a leader.

Leadership (Showing Skills)

This candidate likes to try work and activities which will challenge their initiative, and allow them to display their skills. They will respond well to encouragement that gives them the freedom to try out their own idea and will be motivated most by job roles which promote them to use these skills and give them the ability to develop leadership work towards being leader.

) المهارات ) إبراز القيادة 

المبادرة إلى تدفعه التي باألنشطة والقيام العمل في يرغب المتقدم هذا . يعطيه الذي للتشجيع جي̂د بشكل يستجيب مهاراته بإظهار له وتسمح والتحدييشجعه وظيفي بدور القيام عند أكثرحماسا ويكون أفكاره، اختيار في الحرية

. قائدا لبصبح قيادي عمل تطوير نحو القدرة ويعطيه مهاراته استخدام على

مهاراتك إبراز 

من وتمك̂نك بالتحدي { إحساسا لديك تخلق التي والمسؤوليات المهام تفضل . في أو مجموعات ضمن العمل في ناجحا تكون أن المرجح من مهارتك إظهار

. قائدا لتصبح والعمل المسؤوليات تحمل فيها تستطيع مؤسسات،

Tamheed in Qatar

Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Development

College of the North Atlantic - Qatar

Qatar University

Community College of Qatar

Tamheed in Qatar

Through these partner institutions

over 90% of all Qatari students

who are enrolled in higher education in Qatar have access

to these quality career guidance

services.

WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING “Every student should be required to take these and get counselling to help them decide what to study.” “I have learned things about myself – and my strengths – that I never knew before. I am thinking seriously about my future as a result of this guidance.”  WHAT CAREER ADVISORS ARE SAYING “The training and the materials are extremely useful. We are now able to better support the youth of our country.” “Thank you for enabling us to provide a service that our young people need.” 

www.tamheed.org